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abilities and acquirements, it is no less true that professional 
association with such a man as Bernard was calculated to 
stimulate to higher attainments and more zealous exertion. 
The spirit of emulation alone would induce our own officers 
to prove to the country that they were not inferior to others. 
To high military and scientific acquirements and great ex- 
perience in his professional duties, General Bernard united 
to the qualities of an amiable and accomplished gentleman 
the tact to adapt himself to his peculiar position without 
wounding the pride of those with whom he was thus associ- 
ated. The prestige of his name aided powerfully in sustain- 
ing, with the administration and with Congress, the meas- 
ures which the board found necessary to recommend, and 
in establishing firmly, as a part of our national policy, the 
System of sea-coast defence by fortifications. In recounting 
the origin and growth of the system, it is but just to give 
that name an honorable mention. 
By the Board of Engineers of which I have been speak- 
ing a series of reports was drawn up, which, mostly from 
the pen of our departed associate, form his best memorial, 
and exhibit in a masterly manner the principles of sea-coast 
and harbor defence, and their application to our own coun- 
try. Ina paper of this kind it will not be out of place to 
give some idea, at least, of the arguments and views con- 
tained in these documents. An elaborate report of 1826, 
from which I quote, gives a general résumé of the principles 
which have guided the labors of the board, and of the re- 
sults arrived at. 
“The means of defence for the seaboard of the United 
States, constituting a system, may be classed as follows: 
First, a navy ; second, fortifications ; third, interior communi- 
cations by land and water; and fourth, a regular army and 
well-organized militia. 
